Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Disease Essay

Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Disease
Alzheimer’s disease, while it may not have been widely recognized as a life threatening disease decades ago, the knowledge of this incurable disease is growing with each year passing. With each year we grow as a community, country and world we learn more about ourselves and the way our bodies age. With the advancements in technology we have been able to live longer, thus seeing differences in our aging brains and bodies. Along with our age growing, the technology advancements have led us to have the necessary equipment to do such invasive studies. Scientists are continuing to learn more about this disorder, the symptoms correlated with it, and diagnostic criteria that it must meet to actually be Alzheimer’s disease. While they are learning more about the disease, they are also trying to find new techniques to try and prevent, slow and cure Alzheimer’s disease.

“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose.” –Kevin Arnold

The term Alzheimer’s derives from the founder of this horrible disease, Alois Alzheimer (Kowall & Budson, 2011). Alois Alzheimer’s first encounter with this disease that was reported in 1907 with a woman named Auguste D. Alzheimer examined the 51 year old patient in 1901. The patient’s husband had noted a relatively sudden change in her behavior, dominated by panic, terror, and suspicions of his having an affair with a neighbor. She neglected her housework, hid objects, and fumbled in the kitchen. By the time of her admission to hospital, she suffered from “weakening of memory, persecution of mania, sleeplessness and restlessness”. She was “rarely free from fear and agitation” (Kowall & Budson, 2011)

Description of Disorder While much may have not been understood about Alzheimer’s disease years ago, the knowledge on this disorder has grown and has led to a better understanding of just what Alzheimer’s disease is. With medical advancements and better understanding as a whole, men and women are living longer lives, thus shining the spotlight on age-related diseases. The reason why Alzheimer’s disease may have not been so researched before was because people weren’t living such long lives as they are now. Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related disease that presents itself in older patients more so rather than younger patients. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for about 50-70% of adult-onset dementia in the industrialized world (Kowall & Budson, 2011) What is Alzheimer’s disease exactly? It is a disease that affects the brain tremendously, and unfortunately it is fatal and currently has no cure. Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia, and is currently the most commonly found of dementia in older patients (Lu, Bludau, and Juergen, 2011). Dementia is associated with Alzheimer’s disease but they are not the same thing. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, while other diseases are also types of dementia. Dementia alone is not a type of disease, but more so a symptom of many different diseases. According to Black’s Medical Dictionary dementia is “An acquired and irreversible deterioration in intellectual function. Around 10% of people over 65 and 20% of those aged 75 or older are affected to some extent. The disorder is due to progressive brain disease. It appears gradually as a disturbance in problem solving and agility of thought which may be considered to be due to, boredom or depression. As memory failure develops, the affected person becomes bewildered, anxious and emotional when dealing with new surroundings and complex conversations” (Dementia, 2010). Alzheimer’s disease is one the most common form of dementia because Alzheimer’s disease will affect your daily life tremendously as the disease progresses. According to Webster’s dictionary Alzheimer’s disease is a “degenerative brain…

Alzheimer’s disease is a disease in the brain that causes brain changes that gradually get worse. In Alzheimer's disease, brain cells degenerate and die, causing a steady decline in memory and mental function. It is also the most common cause of dementia; a group of brain disorders that cause progressive loss of intellectual and social skills, severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life.
This disease is developed in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, there is an overall shrinkage of brain…

Pre-testing for Alzheimer’s: Is This the Future for a Cure?Abstract
Researchers believe that a blood test may be the simple solution to finding out if a person is predisposed to getting Alzheimer’s disease. There are many findings out there to suggest that this may be a breakthrough discovery, but there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s. Research proves that Alzheimer’s can be detected up to ten years before a person even shows symptoms of the disease. This is an ongoing discovery that hopefully…

Alzheimer's Disease: Interventions and Outcomes
As the elderly population continues to grow, so does the number of patients who are diagnosed with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. The adult populations age 65 and older are affected by this disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2004). There are at least 4.5 million people in the United States suffering from dementia and/or Alzheimer’s with the annual direct and indirect cost of caring for them estimated to be at least…

Alzheimer’s disease
What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is an acquired cognitive and behavioral impairment of sufficient severity that markedly interferes with social and occupational functioning. It is also the most common form dementia. Dementia is deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment which results from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. A German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer observed a patient at the…

Introduction
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, brain disorder that causes a slow and permanent decline in memory, language skills, perception of time and space, and, eventually the ability to care for oneself. Alzheimer's is the most common from of dementia. Dementia is the impairment of memory and other mental powers due to a disease. It is also the fourth leading cause of death among older adults.
II.What is Dementia?
1. Impaired Memory,
a. Alzheimer's disease is recognized…

weeks) and has been displaying changes in her mood. I immediately took her to a local hospital for help.
Questions-
I recalled that my grandmother (her mother) suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and am wondering if you think this is the same?
If so, is this something I need to worry about?
Is Alzheimer’s disease different from dementia?
Is there a clinic that specializes in care for the elderly?
Dr. Eadie:
Mrs. Poyntz, let me first commend you for immediately seeking medical intervention…

Alzheimer's Disease 1
Alzheimer's Disease
HCA 415
Instructor Boone
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
Alzheimer's disease effects people in different ways, but the most common symptoms…

Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a disease increasing, permanent brain disease that destroys your memory and also your thinking skills. This disease affects people of all racial, economic, and educational backgrounds. This disease mostly affects people who are sixty or older but it also may affect people who are in their fifties, but rarely it may affect people who are even younger. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in adults. Dementia is the loss of intellect and memory…

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